(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees are back in the American League Championship Series for the first time in five years, as they will kick off the best-of-seven set against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this evening at Yankee Stadium.

However, rain is expected this weekend in New York, and the chance of a postponement is possible, which could mess with manager Joe Girardi's plan of using just three starters for this series.

Girardi's blueprint was to use CC Sabathia in tonight's contest and have him start Games 4 and 7, if necessary. However, if one of the two games this weekend is postponed, Sunday's travel day would likely be eliminated.

Either way, though, Sabathia, a 19-game winner this season with the Yankees, gets the call tonight. Sabathia looked great in his ALDS start against the Twins, surrendering one earned run in 6 2/3 innings to record the win. However, he lost both of his starts to the Angels this season and is 5-7 lifetime against them with a 4.72 ERA in 14 starts.

After going an MLB-best 103-59 during the regular season, the Yankees advanced to the ALCS with an impressive three-game sweep of Minnesota, as they came from behind in all three contests, before knocking the Twins out with a 4-1 win on Sunday at the Metrodome.

"Our goal is to try to win a championship," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said after disposing of the Twins. "It's very difficult to do. This is the second step for us and hopefully we have two more."

New York hasn't been to the ALCS since 2004 when it became the first team in major league history to blow a 3-0 lead against the Boston Red Sox. However, the Yankees have won in seven of their last eight ALCS appearances, and, of course, are shooting for their 40th AL Pennant and 27th World Series title.

Now they face an Angels team that has beaten them twice in the postseason. Los Angeles got the best of the Yankees in 2002 on its way to a World Series championship, then beat them again in five games in the 2005 ALDS.

In fact, since 1995, the Angels have been the only AL team to give the Yankees a losing record (68-80, .459).

"We've had some success, but it was before I got here," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. "But I promise you, this Yankee team isn't worried about the past just like we weren't worried about it when we played the Red Sox. You have to go out there and play the game."

Anaheim is in this round for the first time in four years after exorcising some postseason demons, as it swept the Red Sox in the ALDS, the team that had knocked them out of the playoffs in each of the last two years.

The Angels will hand the ball to John Lackey in Game 1. Lackey started the year on the disabled list and really did not hit his stride until the second half when he went 7-4 with a 3.05 ERA.

Lackey was magnificent in his ALDS start against the Red Sox, scattering four hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first postseason win since Game 7 of the 2002 World Series.

"It's the same as the last round," Lackey said. "It helps to win the first game, but I think there's less pressure in a seven-game series."

The Angels weren't the only ones exorcising their playoff demons, as New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez was sensational for the Yankees against the Twins, batting .455 with two home runs and six RBI.

"He was patient and took what they gave him," said manager Joe Girardi. "He had good at-bats all series long. Without Alex we aren't in the situation we're in now."

A-Rod will get a huge test in Game 1, as he is just 9-for-51 (.176) lifetime against Lackey. However, four of those hits have been home runs.

Rodriguez, as a whole, has hit the Angels well in his career, hitting .328 with 67 home runs and 151 RBI against them in 172 games.

The Angels split their 10 games with the Yankees in the regular season, but New York won three of the last four meetings. New York, though, won only two of its six games in Anaheim this season and has lost there in just three of its last 12 visits.



Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend